Apparatus for handling coal



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. THEW. A A APPARATUS FOR HANDLING GOAL, ORE, OR OTHER FREIGHT. No. 436,928. Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- R. THEW.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING GOAL, ORE, OR OTHER FREIGHT.

No. 436,928. A Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

Jttv r 11/0 3495 Unrrnn STATES PATENT OFF-ion.

RICHARD THElV, OF CALEDONIA, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COAL, ORE, OR OTHER FREIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,928, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed January 3, 39

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD THEW, of Caledonia, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Ore, Coal, or other Freight in Vessels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for handling ore, coal, or other freight in vessels; and it consists in certain features of construction and in combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is a plan. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation in section on line 90 33, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation in detail of the scoop-bucket and attachments.

A represents a traveling crane, the wheels A thereof traveling, respectively, on tracks A A There are supposed to be two such cranes operating under main decks-one for each side of the vessel-and as the cranes and attachments are alike a description of one will answer for both.

A is a shaft journaled in suitable boxes connected with the crane, this shaft extending lengthwise of the crane-that is to say, crosswise of the vessel. On this shaft are mounted loosely two driving-wheels B B for engaging, respectively, the two sections of the endless driving rope, chain, belt, or cable F, as the case maybe. If a rope or cable be employed, Wheels B B will be sheaves adapted to the purpose. If an open-link chain is used, the wheels would be of the sprocket variety. If a cable-chain-that is to say, ashort-linked chain-be used, the wheels must be of the pocket variety, and if a belt be used the wheels would be simply band-wheels. For various reasons I prefer a rope for the purpose, and I will suppose the latter to be used.

A driving-engine (not shown) for operating chain or rope F is supposed to be located at one end of the vessel, and an idle lateral sheave, around which rope F passes, is sup posed to be located at the other end of the vessel. The one section of rope F leads un- Serial No. 337,805. (No model.)

der idle-sheaves f and over wheel H, while the return-section of the rope leads over idlesheaves f f and underwheel B. Hence wheels B B and shaft A always revolve in the same direction.

Wheels 13 B are provided with clutches for rotating shaft A these clutches being constructed as follows: Sleeves b b are mounted loosely on the shaft so as to slide endwise thereon, but are held from turning on the shaft by means of the well-known devicespline and groove. Each sleeve is backed by a spring 12 the action of these springs serving to press the respective sleeves toward the opposing driving-wheel. The hubs of the driving-wheels and the opposing ends of the sleeve have mutually engaging spiral or ratchet jaws respectively right and left handed, so that either sleeve will snub back against the action of its spring in reversing the clutch-that is to say, in stopping one of the driving-wheels. Each driving-wheel is provided with abrake-band B and connected with each brake-band is a lever B for operating the same. The operation of this part of the device is as follows: So long as these brake-bands are in their normal or loose position both driving-wheelsB B revolve in the same direction, and by means of the clutches just described both driving-wheels co-operate in driving shaft A If a brake-band be applied to one driving-wheel so as to stop the wheel, the clutch of this wheel will snub back. Meantime the other driving-Wheel will continue to revolve the shaft; .but at the same time the action of the rope on the drivingwheel that has been stopped will draw the crane in the direction that thissectionofrope is traveling. Hence by operating one'bralieband or the other the crane may be made to travel in the one direction or the other and without stopping the revolutions of shaft A?.

C is a carriage operating on suitable tracks of the crane lengthwise th ereofthat is, cross wise of the vessel-this carriage having attached to the ends thereof chains C C or ropes, if preferred, for shifting the carriage. Chain C passes around lateral sheaves c c and winds on drum D. Chain 0 passes around lateral sheaves c c and winds on drum D. These two drums are mounted loosely on shaft A and are operated by cone friction-- clutch of ordinary construction, the two cones d d of these clutches being constructed on the same sleeve, so that a single lever cZ operates both clutches, whereby one clutch is opened in closing the other clutch, there being sufficient end-play in the clutches so that both clutches may remain open or in operative when lever d is in its central position. Lever (Z is connected by link d with hand-lever d by operating which lever carriage C may be moved in the one direction or the other along the crane.

G is a cage depending from the crane and located to one side of the line of the carriage for accommodating the operator, and hence all of the hand-levers and cords or other devices that the operator has to manipulate in operating the apparatus are located in or lead 2 within the cage within easy reach of the operator while occupying his seat in the cage.

To carriage O is hinged or pivoted a depending extensible sweep or arm comprising members E and E, and to the lower end of member E is rigidly attached a scoop-bucket H, this scoop operating in the same vertical plane as the carriage. Member E slides endwise between members E E. The members of the sweep are usually of wood with the engagingfaces thereof faced with metal, the faces of member E being channel-bars, the flanges whereof embrace with an easy fit the edges of members E E, so that the sweep may telescope.

To the face of member E is attached a rack E ,this rack engaging apinion E. This pinion is mounted on shaft e, the journal-boxes of which are attached to members E E. On the overhanging ends of the shaft is mounted a friction-wheel e of considerable size as compared with pinion E Wheel 6' is provided with a friction or brake band 8 the ends of which are connected to lever I on each side of the fulcrum I of the latter. By tightening this friction-band by means of lever I so as to hold the friction-wheel, shaft, and pinion from revolving the sweep is held from extension or collapsing; but when the frictionband is loosened the sweep may lengthen or shorten, as required, according to circumstances.

A spring I is fastened to the one member E and to lever I, the tension of this spring acting on the lever in the direction to tighten the friction-band. Hence the normal condition of the friction-band renders the sweep rigid.

To the free end of lever I is attached cord I This cord leads first between sheaves 2', the. latter being connected with the sweep. From thence the cord leads to and winds around drum 4?, the axle of the drum being provided with cord and weight, as shown at for rotating the drum in the direction to take up the slack of cord I In whatever position the carriage and sweep may be by drawing on cord I lever I will be actuated bail is attached sheave or snatch-block H Chain, rope, or cable J, and I will suppose the former, is attached to the extreme forward end of the crane, and from thence leads around sheave H and from thence leads back to the forward end of the crane and around sheave J, and from thence back around lateral sheave J and from thence to and winds on drum j. I will here remark that sheaves J and L the latter being hereinafter 'men'-. tioned, are usually mounted on the same pins with sheaves c c ,-before mentioned, although this is a matter of no great importance. Chain, rope, or cable L, and I will suppose the former, is attached to memberE a short distance above the scoop, and leads from thence around sheave L, located, as shown, at the rear end of the crane. From thence the chain leads around lateral sheave L and from thence leads to and winds around drum Z. Drums j and Z are mounted loosely on shaft A. These drums and the mechanism for op erating them are alike. Each of these drums is provided with a cone friction-clutch,'the cones thereof j j being rigidly mounted on shaft A At the outer ends of drums j and Z are sleeves Z" Z, abutting the hubs ,of the respective drums, these sleeves being mounted loosely on shaft A and each sleeve having a depending lever Z for turning the respective sleeves on the shaft. The outer ends of sleeves Z Z are provided with spiral jaws Z Z respectively, right and left handed, for engaging corresponding jaws of sleeves K K. The latter are mounted loosely on shaft A but are held from turning with or on the shaft by being fastened to the crane. Each lever Z is provided with a spring Z for holding the'lever in its normal position, whereby the clutches are opened and drumsj and Z are consequently inoperative.

Cords M M connect, respectively, with the free ends of levers Z Z and lead from thence around suitable sheaves connected with the crane, these cords attaching, respectively, to levers 'm m, the latter being located within the cage. By manipulating the one lever m or the other the connected lever Z is drawn forward, thereby turning the connected sleeve Z on its axis, whereby the engagement of the spiral jaws of the engaging-sleeves Z and K force the opposing drum onto the opposing cone j, thus causing the drum to revolve and wind the connected chain thereon. While drum j is winding the chain to swing IIO the scoop forward, the other chain for reversing the scoop may unwind from its drum Z, and vice versa.

Q is a standard, supposed to be one of a series of standards supporting the main deck above, these standards being located at the lateral center of the vessel and between the different hatchways.

As is well known, hoisting-buckets are lowered through the different hatchways, and heretofore these buckets have been filled by hand. My improved apparatus is designed to fill these buckets by operating scoop H. The hoisting-buckets hold usually about a ton of ore, and scoop II should be of the corresponding capacity.

In Fig.2 is shown a hoisting-bucket U, and in dotted lines is shown the scoop in position for filling such bucket. The rear end of the scoop is'provided withan end gate I'l ,the latter being pivoted to the scoop-for instance, at h-in such position that the end gate in opening will not swing downward so as to be in the way. At the left hand in Fig. 2 is shown in dotted lines the position of the scoop drawn back toward the side of the vessel. In a large-sized vessel for the ore trade the hold where the ore is stored is likely to be, say, from twelve to fourteen feet deep, and the depth of ore when the vesselis loaded will likely be, say, from four to four and a half or possibly five feet in depth, from which it will be seen that there is plenty of room for the cage and for operating the scoop.

My apparatus is also designed for distributing the load as it is being dumped into the hold through the hatchways, and to this end the scoop must have some reversing feature to adapt it to move, for instance, the ore from under the hatchway toward the sides of the vessel. This may be done in several ways. For instance, the sweep may be unfastened from the carriage and turned half-way round and again fastened to the carriage. The principal objection to this is that the sweep and scoop are heavy to handle. I prefer, however, the construction shown, to wit Plates II, that connect the sweep with the scoop, have at the lower ends thereof three prongs, as shown, the central prong being pivoted to the scoop at h The other prongs are fastened to the scoop by means of removable bolts, as shown at W, extra bolt-holes being provided in the scoop, as shown at 77?, so that by removing these bolts the scoop may be tilted to the position required for operating in the other direction, the scoop being rigidly secured by means of these bolts in either position; also, extra holes are provided at 'h and h, respectively, for changing the bail and the end gate to opposite ends of the scoop, in which case chain J is attached to the sweep, and chain L is passed through the sheave of the bail, and the end of the chain is drawn back and fastened to the crane at L In unloading the vessel the operator swings the scoop back toward theside of the vessel, then draws the scoop forward and downward to scoop up the load, and continues the forward movement to elevate the scoop above the plane of the hoisting-bucket. The operator then moves the crane along the tracks,

if need be, to bring the scoop opposite the hoisting-bucket, and the carriage is moved forward, it need be, tobring the scoop over the bucket, after which the end gate'of the scoop is unlatched and the load of the scoop descends by gravityinto the hoisting-bucket. Next the empty scoop is again swung rearward for another load. Meantime the carriage is moved rearward, so that the descending scoop will at least clear the hoisting-bucket,

and the crane is moved along the tracks, if

need be, to reach the place where the scoop is to be loaded, and so on.

In the drawings no latch is shown for fast ening the end gate of the scoop; but as about any of the varieties of latches or catches in use for such purpose will answer it is not considered necessary to furnish a rear end view of the scoop to illustrate so simple and well-known device as a latch.

I will remark that there will usually be a man stationed at each hatchway to give the signals for hoisting the buckets, the same as there would be if the buckets were being loaded by hand, and this man could unfasten the end gate of the scoop, or a cord could lead from the latch to the cage, whichever way, according to circumstances, is found most practical.

In loading the vessel the ore or coal is usu ally dumped through the different hatchways and the scoop is reversed and used for dis tributing the load. Heretofore a gang of men were employed at each hatchway to shovel back and distribute the load. As aforesaid, there are supposed to be two cranes and attachments, such as describedone for each side of the vessel-and while one crane is being operated for instance, at the forward hatchways the other crane could be operated at the rearward hatchways, so that the two scoops would never interfere with each other. However, the two scoops can operate at the same hatchway at the same time by operating the, scoops alternately.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a vessel, a traveling crane operating on track-rails in the hold of the vessel, a movable carriage, a sweep, and attached dumping-scoop hinged to the carriage and operatively connected with the crane, and suitable power-transmitting mech anism for moving the carriage, swinging the scoop, and for moving the crane along the track-rails, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination, a vessel, a traveling crane operating in the hold of the vessel on track-rails extending lengthwise of the vessel, a carriage mounted on such crane, a swinging arm, and attached dumping-scoop operatively connected with such carriage, with power-transmitting mechanism, substantially as indicated, for operating the cranecarriage and dumping-scoop, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a traveling crane and a carriage adapted to travel in a direction at right angles to the line of travel of the crane, of a sweep hinged to the carriage, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a traveling crane and a carriage adapted to travel on the crane in a direction at right angles to the line of travel of the crane, of an extensible sweep hinged to the carriage, said sweep composed of two members which slide upon each other, one member having a rack and the other a pinion, the teeth of which engage the teeth of the rack, whereby the member having the rack is raised or lowered, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a traveling crane,

a movable carriage adapted to travel on the crane, and a sweep hinged to this-carriage, of a rotary shaft, drums, and clutch mechanism on the shaft, and cable connecting drums on the shaft with the carriage and sweep, Whereby the latter are moved by the shaft, substantially as set forth. 1

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 5th day of December, 1889.

RICHARD THEW.-

Witnesses:

OHAs. I-I. DORER, WILL B. SAGE. 

